Book-support.



No. 632,384. Patented Sept. 5,1899.

m. E. WELSH.

BOOK SUPPORT.

(Applicaflon filed May 20, 1899.)

(In Model.)

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UNHED? STATES MARION ESTELLE VVELOH,

OE PORTLAND, OREGON.

BOOK-SUPPORT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,384, dated September 5, 1899.

Application filed May 20, 1899. Serial No. 717,671. (No modelb To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LMARION ESTELLE WELoH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Port land, in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Book-Support, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings as a part thereof.

My invention relates to desk-supports for books whereby the same may be held in convenient reading position, the angle of incline to be adjustable to that which is found coinfortable for the sight; and it is my design that the whole contrivance shall be of neat, practical, andinexpensive construction. One support is also to answer for books of varying size. These features and the general construction of my invention are fully illustrated in the accompanying drawings above referred to, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my booksupport. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of myinvention, one of the ears or perforated lugs between which the leg h is hinged being broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan of the central portion of my book-support, showing the details of construction of this part. Fig. 4 shows the back of a section of the adjustable bracket g. Fig. 5 shows the means for attaching the back-strip a to the back of the standards 0 d, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same details seen in Fig. 5.

The letters designate the parts referred to I in my description.

My invention comprises a horizontal strip of metal a, the central portion 1) of which is conoaved to receive the back of a book and has folded edges formed into grooves a, having clamps at their extremities. Such clamps must be elastic to adapt the same to be opened to receive the two halves of an opened book. The extension-arms may be made of ribbons of metal and the clamp ends tempered. The two ends of the strip a are further provided with slots a and the extension-arms have studs a sliding in such slots and limiting the motion of the arms to prevent their being drawn out too far.

Attached to the strip a are two standards 0 d anda pivoted leg h. The lower extremity of the standards 0 (1 should be bent outward for the purpose of providing a support on which to hold the book and also to prevent such standards from scratching the desk on which they are placed. Of course it is possible to use the device without such lower projections, the book being held against the standards by the clamps of the arms 6 e and the base of the book resting directly on the desk, but the described adaptation of said standards is preferable. The leg his hinged to the back of the strip a at its central portion I), as shown in Fig. 3, between two lugs or ears 6 6 which are riveted to the part b. The upper end of the leg h is flattened and perforated. The threaded bolt 1 provided with a washer j and winged nut 70, holds said parts together. The projection 11 at the upper end of the leg h prevents the same from being extended outward too far. At the lower end of the leg ha little rubber thimble should be fixed for the twofold purpose of preventing the said leg from readily sliding on the desk and also to prevent the furniture from being scratched.

A practical means for attaching the strip a to the standards 0 d is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and consists in cutting out of the folded edges at the two ends two tongues a a bending these outward, and riveting such tongues to the back of the standards, respectively.

In order to enable me to use my'book-support for books of varying sizes, I make use of an adjustable bracket g, having a sole g and provided at its back with tongues g to be inserted in slots f for that purpose provided in the standards. The use of such adjustable bracket in connection with my book-support is, however, optional.

In using my invention the book is opened at the proper place, the extensionarms e e drawn out so as to receive each one of the two halves of the book, the clamps at the ends of said arms being opened and adjusted over the leaves to hold the same, and the leg h may then be adjusted so as to place the book in a comfortable reading position.

My device is to be neatly finished and made of strong but light material to give the whole as pretty an appearance as possible.

Now what I claim is 1. As a new article of manufacture, a booksupport comprising, in combination, a horizontal strip having folded edges forming grooves, as a, and the central portion of said strip being adapted to receive the back of a book; extension-arms having spring-clamps at their extremities, which arms slide in said grooves; means limiting the outward motion of said arms; standards affixed to the ends of said strips; ears at the central portion of said strip, and an adjustable leg pivoted between said ears, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a booksupport comprising, in combination, a horizontal strip having folded edges forming grooves, as a, and the central portion of said strip being adapted to receive the back of a book; extension-arms having spring-clamps at their extremities, which arms slide in said grooves; means limiting the outward motion of said arms; standards affixed to the ends of said strip; ears at the central portion of said strip; an adjustable leg pivoted between said ears, and a movable bracket, as 9, provided with tongues, 9 the said standards having perforations for removably receiving the tongues of said bracket, substantially as described.

3. As a new articleof manufacture, a book support comprising, in combination, a horie zontal back-strip,having folded edges forming grooves, as a, and the central portion of said strip being adapted to receive the back of a book; extension-arms, slidably held in said grooves and provided with spring-clamps at their extremities; means limiting the outward motion of said arms; standards, aflixed to both ends of said back-strip, the lower extremities of which are bent outward; ears affixed to the central portion of said back-strip; an adjustable leg pivoted between said cars, by means of a threaded bolt and nut; and tongues, as a of", cut out of the folded edges of said back-strip and turned back,and Whereby said back-strip is riveted to the standards, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto aifixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

MARION ESTELLE WELCH.

Witnesses:

J. H. CUNNINGHAM, 1-1. I. DYGERT. 

